Warriors of Poseidon 01 - Atlantis Rising

washcloth clenched in his hand, and gazed at her pale skin. Even now, his mind rebelled at the thought of anybody harming her. Someone was going to die. Why had she been nude? What had they done to her? Who was they?
     
    The thought of any man—or, worse, any creature—attacking her spiked a soul-annihilating rage through him.
     
    But why the Trident? Alaric had said it was the priest's mark, would say no more until Riley was awake.
     
    But the priest had been shaken. Unsure. Almost afraid, if the harsh lines of his face were any indicator.
     
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    "Riley," Conlan whispered, pulling the blanket over her now-clean form. "Please come back to me."
     
    A knock sounded at the door. He positioned himself between the door and the bed, hands on his daggers. "Enter."
     
    Ven opened the door. "We're ready to go. I have another place, way outside of town. No houses around it for miles. Nobody but me knows about it, since I only bought it a few months ago."
     
    Ven crossed to his brother. Looked down at the sleeping form on the bed. "Is she going to be okay?"
     
    Conlan knelt beside her, gently moved the hair back from her face. "She has to be," he replied simply. "Or I will end with her."
     
    Ven started to speak, stopped, laid a hand on Conlan's shoulder. "Then we'll make sure she's okay. Let's go."
     
    Conlan tucked the blanket more securely around Riley and swept her into his arms. He followed Ven down the hall, where the others stood waiting, loosely circling Alaric, who was as pale as death.
     
    "Brennan and Denal are in the back of the Hummer," Bastien said. "Alaric told us they are only sleeping, and will wake soon."
     
    "A sleep like I've never seen," muttered Justice. "They didn't even flinch when we carried them out to the vehicles. Makes you wonder what happened to them."
     
    Alexios pointed to an umbrella, lying on the floor. "Why the umbrella? There were weapons all over the floor when we entered behind you. I counted an axe, several Atlantis Rising – Warriors of Poseidon 01
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    daggers, and both of their swords. But no weapons from any intruders, nor any sign of them, except for their blood on our weapons."
     
    Christophe held his hands out, palms raised. "Not that this is my thing, but since Alaric is out of commission, I can try to feel what power might have been used."
     
    He closed his eyes and lifted his head, muscles in his neck straining. Then his body jerked, as if struck. "Somebody called power here. Huge power. On the level of what hit us at that warehouse, Alaric. What could do that?"
     
    Christophe turned to Alaric. "Neither Denal nor Brennan can channel the elements on this level. What could have called this power?"
     
    "It was the Trident," the priest said flatly. "Poseidon delivered his staff to Riley and ordained her."
     
    Alaric's laughter was tinged with dark wildness. "It appears Poseidon has claimed your aknasha, Conlan. Now she belongs to him."
     
    They drove to the new safe house, Alaric refusing to speculate further on what might have happened. Or even discuss what he'd meant about Riley. The house was a rambling farmhouse type, set well back from what Ven said was a sparsely traveled country road. Conlan had noticed signs for various horse-related businesses and seen a few horses in fields as they passed. He waited in the car with Riley while the others cleared the building. Nobody was taking any more chances.
     
    "It's not set up like a bunker now, but it has great potential to be refurbished. Plus, it has the advantage of being way the hell out in the boonies," Ven said when he returned.
     
    "I don't care what it takes. Put everyone on watch," Conlan said flatly. "Well, all but Denal and Brennan. Let them rest."
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    "Are you kidding? I couldn't make them rest if I tied them down," Ven said. "Ever since they came to, they're hell-bent on protecting Lady Sunshine. They appear to have one helluva story to tell."
     
    Conlan scowled at his brother, but Ven simply shook his head, his face solemn. "I'm right there with them, bro. They said she dove into the middle of the vamps. That's way beyond the call, man."
     
    He glanced at the motionless shape in Conlan's arms as they walked into the house.
    "She's quite a woman. She deserves better than what we've gotten her into."
     
    Ice spread through Conlan's veins. When he spoke, a barely